This TikTok Creator Tested 42 Churches by Asking for Baby Formula. The Responses Sparked a National Debate

Amid SNAP cutbacks, a social experiment sheds light on religious institutions’ unwillingness to help mothers in need. Nikalie Monroe, a U.S. Army veteran, led the TikTok-viral project. When the videos gained traction online, Monroe had called about 30 places of worship, asking for a can of baby formula for her starving baby. Only four offered help.  

The Kentucky-based content creator continued to contact religious organizations across the country, documenting 42 phone calls. 

Only 9 out of 42 institutions agreed to provide baby formula

The latest viral TikTok social experiment has sparked a wave of criticism towards religious institutions in the U.S. In the series, Nikalie Monroe phones churches, mosques, and other places of worship to request help feeding her two-month-old baby. 

“I’m calling your church to see if they would help feed a starving baby,” the army veteran says in every video. To make the calls seem believable, Monroe set crying baby sounds in the background. 

The responses were varied. A slew of Catholic and Evangelical churches openly denied help. Others informed her that help is available only to church members or tried to redirect her to other institutions. The Lakewood Church, one of the wealthiest religious institutions in Texas, asked Monroe to submit her information for consideration. If approved, her request would be granted within days or weeks.

In the end, only nine institutions and people agreed to help Nikalie. Islamic centres, Black and Latino communities, and smaller churches were among the entities that agreed to supply Nikalie with baby formula.

The videos have sparked a wave of solidarity and backlash 

Monroe’s TikTok following has shot up from 300 to 400,000 in a few days. Meanwhile, the religious institutions willing to offer assistance have received a downpour of donations. The Heritage Hope Church of God is one of them. 

The Somerset institution is led by pastor Johnny Dunbar, who offered to buy baby formula from his own pocket. According to an update from the “Appalachian Grandpa” (as the internet has dubbed Dunbar), the church has received $95,000 in donations. On Facebook, the church has also launched “Feed the Need” events for the Somerset community. 

Similarly, the Islamic Center of Charlotte has experienced an increase in donations. The Islamic institution, which immediately invited Monroe to collect the formula, has received thousands of online messages. According to the Charlotte Observer, the centre will soon host a food drive. 

On the other hand, those who denied assistance to Monroe have been at the center of scrutiny. Users questioned the churches’ status as charitable organizations and their tax-exempt benefits. Previous scandals, such as the Lakewood Church’s initial refusal to shelter people during Hurricane Harvey, have resurfaced. 

Various churches posted statements or dedicated sermons to explain their actions. Some argue that they don’t directly offer help because of scams. Others held the personnel picking up the calls responsible.  

The most extreme responses exposed the church leaders’ misogyny

The Living Faith Christian Center’s bishop accused the TikToker of witchcraft. “I don’t apologize to the devil,” he said on a sermon that aired online. “That’s the spirit of a witch.

In my Bible, it says, he does not allow that thing to live,” he added, referencing Exodus 22:18.  

The leader of Germantown Baptist Church used a Bible proverb to address the situation. “The woman’s folly is loud. She is seductive and knows nothing.” He added that Monroe’s video was an unrighteous, fake attempt to set a trap for the church and to deviate from ministry.  

Content creators and internet users have dissected the situation, pointing out the misogyny that still plagues the Church. “Every time you quote verses about killing women in response to testimonies about hungry babies, you reveal that your god is not Christ,” says creator Connie Chen in a TikTok video. “Your God is a God who kills women for testifying.” 

A decline in government aid and public faith

Monroe’s social experiment comes amid a government shutdown that has halted major food programs in the U.S. Starting November 1, the government cut funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), affecting 42 million low-income U.S. residents. 

Meanwhile, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) continued offering benefits amid uncertainty. In late October, CNN reported that “WIC services may end at several locations on Saturday (November 8).” However, on November 3, the government announced a $450 million transfer to states from unused customs revenue.

In addition to highlighting the importance of food programs in the country, Monroe’s videos and the commentary they elicit reflect a growing decline in trust in religious institutions. This is not an isolated event. According to a 2023 study, nearly 15% of Americans are dechurched. Some of the reasons people cited for drifting away from religious communities were that “they did not feel much love,” whether in church or in the congregation. 

“The reason people leave churches is not that they lose their belief in God,” religious commentator Russel Moore told The New York Times in 2023. “They lose confidence in religious leaders and in the church’s moral leadership.”